Israeli Airstrikes Kill More Than 500 In Lebanon, Local Authorities Say

Topline

More than 500 people have died and tens of thousands have been forced to flee their homes in southern Lebanon, according to local authorities, as Israel on Tuesday carried out widespread airstrikes targeting Hezbollah for the second consecutive day, while the Iran-backed militant group responded by firing rockets into Israeli territory.

The Israeli bombardment of southern Lebanon has forced tens of thousands to flee to the country’s … [+] capital Beirut.

Anadolu via Getty Images

Key Facts

According to Lebanon’s health ministry, at least 558 people have been killed so far—including 50 children and 94 women—and at least 1,835 have been injured.

The bombardment has also forced tens of thousands of civilians to flee southern Lebanon and seek refuge in the country’s capital, Beirut.

After claiming to hit 1,300 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, the Israeli Defense Forces said they were conducting a new wave of airstrikes on Tuesday.

The IDF said its operations targeted strategic capabilities, which it claims Hezbollah had hidden inside villages and civilian homes.

The militant group retaliated against the aerial bombardment by launching a barrage of rockets toward northern Israel early on Tuesday, purportedly targeting military sites including an explosives factory.

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Crucial Quote

Appearing on ABC News’ Good Morning America on Tuesday, White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby said: “We don’t believe it’s in Israel’s interest for it to escalate, for there to be an all-out war there on the North, on that blue line between Israel and Lebanon…What we’re going to keep doing is talking to them about trying to find a diplomatic solution here, a way to de-escalate the tensions.”

Surprising Fact

With more than 500 people killed, Monday was the deadliest day in Lebanon since the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel.

Tangent

The U.S. State Department and several foreign nations have been urging their citizens to leave Lebanon immediately, due to the escalating conflict. On Tuesday, however, more than 30 flights to and from Beirut were canceled. Kirby told ABC News on Tuesday that U.S. officials are in communication with their Israeli counterparts to ensure that there are commercial flights available for Americans who want to leave Lebanon immediately.

Key Background

Israel began its most widespread aerial campaign against Hezbollah targets on Monday, after conducting smaller operations targeting the group’s leadership last week. Shortly after launching Monday’s operation, the IDF warned civilians living in Lebanese villages “located in and next to buildings and areas used by Hezbollah for military purposes…to immediately move out of harm’s way for their own safety.” Earlier in the week, hundreds of pagers used by Hezbollah members exploded simultaneously across Lebanon and parts of Syria, killing at least a dozen people and injuring more than 2,750. Lebanese officials blamed the attacks on Israel—who hasn’t publicly accepted responsibility. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, has said his government will do whatever is necessary to cripple Hezbollah’s capabilities and allow residents from northern Israeli cities, who were forced to flee their homes amid an escalation in tensions along the border with Lebanon, back to their homes safely.